How to Grow Apache Plume

Apache plume shrubs are easy to grow and require little maintenance.

The Apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa) is most identifiable by its purplish-pink featherlike seed heads that appear on the heels of tiny white spring blooms. This extremely drought-tolerant shrub belongs to the Rosaceae, or rose, family. Its mature height is 6 feet with an equal spread. It is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 10. Landscape uses for the Apache plume include mass plantings, xeriscapes, hedges and borders.

1

Plant the Apache plume in a south or west portion of your landscape that receives the warmest temperatures. Choose a spot that receives full, direct sunlight and contains extremely well-draining, sandy soil. Space the plant 6 feet away from other vegetation.

2

Water young, newly planted Apache plumes once a week. Flood the soil surrounding the shrub with a garden hose. Reduce supplemental watering once the shrub becomes established and starts to produce new foliage and stems. Water mature, established shrubs once a month during hot summer months and periods of no rainfall

3

Fertilize the Apache plume in the early spring when the plant is no longer dormant and new leaves begin to emerge. Apply a 10-10-10 (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) slow-release fertilizer at a rate of 1 tablespoon per square foot of soil. Spread the fertilizer evenly in a ring around the shrub, just outside the perimeter of the plant's branches. Mix the fertilizer granules into the top 1 to 3 inches of soil using a rake. Water the area thoroughly to activate the fertilizer.

4

Prune the Apache plume in the late winter while it is still dormant. Cut out any broken, damaged or diseased stems using a pair of pruning shears. Make each cut 1/4 inch above a growth node or dormant bud. Thin the plant by no more than one-third, removing the oldest stems first.

5

Trim the shrub in the early summer after it flowers. Clip back any excessive long or straggly stems to shape the plant and keep it looking presentable.

Things You Will Need

Garden hose

10-10-10 low-release fertilizer

Rake

Pruning shears

Tip

Plant Apache plume with other drought-tolerant plants to create a low-water section in your landscape.